Campaign warns of cannabis dangers

A new advertising campaign is aiming to highlight the dangers of cannabis, which is often regarded by young people as a 'safe' drug.

Almost 18 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds use cannabis and the drug is also the most frequently used illegal drug among 11 to 15-year-olds.

However, research has shown that cannabis can produce both immediate and longer-term harms to both mental and physical health.

Louis Appleby, national director for mental health services, described cannabis as a 'harmful' drug.

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'We have known for years that it can be part of a pattern of relapse and risk in people with severe illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder,' he revealed.

'Now the evidence is pointing to cannabis as the cause of psychosis in some people, particularly people who are heavy users.'

The new advertising campaign will feature on TV, radio and websites and will show how a talkative and relaxed experience of cannabis use can quickly turn into paranoia, panic attacks and sickness.

Cannabis was reclassified from class C to class B in January 2009. The Home Office states that the decision was taken in light of the dominance of skunk, a particularly strong version of the drug that now accounts for more than 80 per cent of cannabis on the UK's streets.

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